Firsts..

first beach day of the summer..

first day of camp...

first pigtails...

Showering with Love

Yesterday I had the pleasure of hosting a lovely baby shower for mommies-to-be Carin and Hillary as they get ready to welcome their baby girl into the world in July.

As most of you may know, Carin and Hillary are some of our best friends (and the "Fairy Godmommies" to the kids.. well, officially Lucas, Zoe by default.. poor 2nd children..) and after years of a loving relationship were able to legally marry last summer during the short amount of time (backwards) CA allowed it.

They are amazing women and I can't express how excited I am for them. Very obviously, they are having a girl.. which means a PINKPINKPINK explosion.

Please note the 1st of 2 diaper cakes I obsessed over. The cupcake toppers (on the diaper cake) and banner is from my girl Jess at Polkadots and Pirates I kinda don't do a child related party without her these days.. ;-)

"Vintage" plate set and sugar cubes with "sugar charms" - are those not the cutest things ever??

the "Garden Table"

and the dessert table..

the mommies-to-be!

Hillary sipping on a "Hilly's Silly Fizz" (Ker Royal) while Carin drinks her virgin "CC's babe-a-lini" (Martinelli's and Peach Juice)

presents!

Then Zoe came in, to litterally "take the cake" ....

Me and the mommies-to-be:

if you are interested in the full set....

Florida, April 2009

I got home from FLA with over 700 pics in my camera. How can you help it? The colors are so alive and bright there.

The sun was warm, the water such an amazing combination of greens and blues. Oh, and the little one? WALKING.

I knew it would take getting on an airplane to motivate her. Such the personality on that one.

The main reason for the trip was my Grandma Rose's 92nd birthday.

It was her birthday wish to meet her only great-grandbaby girl and see her darling Lucas again. Both kids were wonderful with her and thrilled to help her eat her cake.

After the birthday celebrations, we broke loose and headed south. Pretty much as south as you could go..

We made it to Mallory Square just in time for the sunset, and then to see the drunks on Duval Street. I'm a pretty liberal Mama, but when you are walking down the street worried that your 5 year old is going to get burnt by a drunk 50-year old woman wearing a straw cowboy hat's camel extra-light, you know you shouldn't have your kids out.

But we had our goal.. sunset and to search for our lost shaker of salt...

Sunday I got to do something I have been wanting to do for about 19 years.. swim with the dolphins at the Dolphin Research Center in Grassy Key.

I still, to this day, obsess over dolphins, and am still happy with my above-the-butt-cheek tattoo choice - even if every other 30 something woman has the same one (a-MariaV-choo). :-)

The trip was finished off with a boat ride around Islamorada, and a windy, yet beautiful, sunset on the water.

She's Crafty - Insanity Card Edition

I got a gift certificate to Barnes and Noble for my birthday, so I bought myself a true present, something I wanted, but probably never would have paid $35 for myself. The Martha Stewart Encyclopedia of Crafts. (heh, I just typed "crap" by accident. Jason would concur with my Freudian slip of the finger)

Regardless, the book got me all aflutter on the crafty front. And I did have some cards I needed to get out.. I started around noon today. At 5:30 Jason demanded I clean up my mess of paper scraps, stamps, glitter tinted embossing powder, ribbons and glue. But wait! I had to quickly line envelopes.

Because yes, I am INSANE.

Did I mention that it was about 85 here today - the perfect spring day, spent inside with punches and embellishments.

and because the insanity doesn't end there - I even took pictures

Easter Green

Zoe - 17.5 months..